Aerosol valve with safety relief device

ABSTRACT

A valve assembly for a pressurized container, the valve assembly facilitating use of the container in the normal manner, but also having facility for automatically relieving excessive pressure in the container.

United States Patent Webster [4 May 30, 1972 [54] AEROSOL VALVE WITH SAFETY 3,081,919 3/1963 Samuel ..222/396 RELIEF DEV E 3,452,906 7/1969 Daniels ....222/402.1 3,519,172 7/1919 Bruce ..222/396 [72] Inventor: Milo E. Webster, Braintree, Mass.

73 A 1 Th m n C B t y M Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves 1 sslgnee e e e ompany OS on ass Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Handren 1 Filed: 1969 Attorney-Philip Colman, William M. Anderson, Scott R. [21] Appl. No.: 865,907 Foster and Oistein J. Bratlie [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl ..222/396, 222/402. 1 ZZZ/402.22 51 lm. Cl ..B65d 83/14 A valve assembly a Pressumed mmame" the valve 58 Field of swell ..222/396, 402.1, 402.22; sembly facilitating use the mmain" "Ormal manner 251/353, 354 but also having facility for automatically relieving excessive pressure in the container. [56] References Clted 4 Claims 6 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,731,298 1/1956 Green ..222/402.22 X

32 glee 42 34 o 8 so 1o 12 N 38 24 g 4 44 2O I 14 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a combination dispensing and excess pressure relief valve, and is directed more particularly to a dispensing valve for a pressurized fluid container which, in addition to its dispensing capabilities, performs the function of an excess pressure relief safety valve.

2. Description of the Prior Art On various pressurized fluid containers, as for example, those containing low pressure gas, such as liquified propane, in addition to the normal dispensing valve there is provided for s fety reasons a separate excess pressure relief safety valve which is necessary in order to meet certain legal requirements. Such excess pressure safety relief valve is usually separate and distinct from the normal dispensing valve and may be in the form of a valve which closes against the pressure in the container and which is held closed, as for example, by a spring of a predetermined force. When the predetermined force is exceeded, the valve is forced open by the pressure in the container, thus allowing the escape of the contents until the excess pressure is relieved. The excess pressure relief valve serves to prevent build-up of unsafe pressures in the interior of the container, which could be a fire or explosion hazard.

The provision of the separate excess pressure safety relief valve, though necessary and required, substantially increases the cost and difficulty in fabrication of the container inasmuch as the provision of the second valve necessitates the provision of a separate opening through the container wall, as well as the construction and insertion of the separate valve in the openmg.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a combined dispensing and excess pressure relief safety valve for a pressurized container.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a valve assembly having all the advantages and safety features of a separate excess pressure relief valve while eliminating the disadvantages, including the disadvantages involved in providing a separate valve for this purpose positioned in a separate opening.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a valve assembly for a pressurized container. The valve assembly comprises a housing having a chamber therein, an inlet nozzle at a first end of the housing having an inlet passageway for placing the chamber in communication with the interior of the container. A first valve member having a tubular portion is slidably disposed in an opening in a second end of the housing, and a base portion of the first valve member is disposed in the chamber. A first spring means is disposed in the chamber between the first valve member and the first end of the housing for urging the first valve member base portion into engagement with the second end of the housing. A second valve member for placing the chamber in communication with the interior of the tubular portion is provided, along with a second spring means which is disposed in the chamber and about the second valve member to urge the second valve member into a closed position. The second spring means is compressible upon accumulation of excessive pressure in the chamber to permit movement of the second valve member from the closed position to an open position in order to exhaust the chamber until the pressure therein reaches the desired level.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims, It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent.

FIG. 1 is an elevational-sectional view of one form of valve assembly illustrative of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational-sectional view of the valve shown in FIG. 1, but shown in the normal operating position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational-sectional view of the valve assembly shown in FIG. 1, but showing the safety valve portion thereof relieving pressure in the container;

FIGS. 4 6 are similar to FIGS. 1 3, but showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the illustrative valve assembly includes a housing 2 having an inlet nozzle portion 4 and a recess 6. A sealing member 8 is disposed adjacent the housing 2 and substantially covers the recess 6 to form a substantially closed chamber 10. The housing 2 and the sealing member 8 are clamped together by a cover member 12 which may be crimped about the housing 2.

Disposed in the chamber 10 is a follower l4 slidably engaging a set of rails 16. The follower 14 is cup-shaped and receives a coil spring 18 which urges the follower 14 in the direction of the sealing member 8.

The follower 14 is provided with a bore 20 in which is disposed a pin 22 having at a first end thereof a flat head 24 and having at a second end thereof a cup-shaped head 26. The cup-shaped head 26 receives a coil spring 28 which urges the flat head portion 24 of the pin in a direction toward the nozzle portion 4 of the housing 2 to close one end of the follower bore 20.

Also disposed in the chamber 10 is a valve actuator member 30 which includes a discharge nozzle portion 32 which extends through a hole 34 in the sealing member 8. The valve actuator member 30 is provided with an axial passageway 36 which is in communication with a recess 38 in the valve actuator member. The recess 38 receives the flat head portion 24 of the pin 22. The actuator member 30 also includes an annular groove 40 and an aperture 42 interconnecting the groove 40 and the passageway 36.

The follower 14 is provided with a sealing member 44 which receives one end 46 of the actuator member 30 and also receives the flat head portion 24 of the pin 22.

Still referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the nozzle portion 4 of the housing 2 is provided with an axial passage 48 which conducts fluid under pressure from the interior of a container, such as an aerosol dispenser, to the interior of the chamber 10. The spring 18 causes the follower 14 to urge the actuating member 30 into firm engagement with the sealing member 8, whereby to prevent flow from the chamber 10 to the annular groove 40. In addition, the spring 28 urges the head portion 24 of the pin 22 into firm engagement with the sealing member 44, whereby to prevent flow through the bore Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that in normal operation of the valve, pressure is applied to the discharge nozzle portion 32 of the valve actuator member 30 to compress the spring 18 and disengage the valve member 30 from the sealing member 8, whereby to place the passageway 36 in communication, by way of the aperture 42, with the chamber 10. The follower l4 slides along the rails 16, the rails permitting flow around the follower and into the upper portion (as shown in FIG. 2) of the chamber 10. The spring 28 still retains the pin 22 in position to prevent flow through the bore 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, however, it will be seen that in the event of accumulation of excessive pressure in the chamber 10, the pressure in the bore 20 will cause the pin 22 to lift upwardly (as shown in FIG. 3) to disengage the head portion 24 of the pin from the sealing member 44, whereby to permit flow into the recess 38, which is under atmospheric pressure only, and into the passage 36. As long as the pressure in the container remains sufficiently high to compress the spring 28, flow through the bore 20 will continue. When the pressure decreases to the desired upper limit, the spring 28 once again moves the pin 22 into position to block flow through the bore 20, thereby to close the valve.

Referring to FIG. 4, there will be seen an illustrative alternative embodiment of the valve assembly of the present invention. The alternative embodiment includes a housing 102 having an inlet noule portion 104 and a recess 106. A sealing member 108 is disposed adjacent the housing 102 and substantially covers the recess 106 to form a substantially closed chamber 110. The housing 102 and the sealing member 108 are clamped together by a cover member 112 which may be crimped about the housing 102.

Disposed in the chamber 110 is a valve actuator member 130 which includes a discharge nozzle portion 132 which extends through a hole 134 in the sealing member 108. The valve actuator member 130 is provided with a bore 120 in which is disposed a pin 122 having at a first end thereof a fiat head 124 and having at a second end thereof a cup-shaped head 126. The cup-shaped head 126 receives a coil spring 128 which urges the flat head portion 124 of the pin in a direction toward the nozzle portion 104 of the housing 102 to close one end of the bore 120. The actuator member 130 receives a coil spring 118-which urges the member 130 into sealing engagement with the sealing member 108.

The actuator member 130 includes an annular groove 140 and an aperture 142 inter-connecting the groove 140 and a discharge passageway 136. The actuator member 130 is also provided with a sealing member 144, which may be of an O- ring configuration, which cooperates with the flat head portion 124 of the pin 122 to block flow through the bore 120.

Still referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the noule portion 104 of the housing 102 is provided with an axial passage 148 which conducts fluid under pressure from the interior of a container, such as an aerosol dispenser, to the interior of the chamber 110. The spring 118 urges the actuating member 130 into firm engagement with the sealing member 108, whereby to prevent flow from the chamber 1 to the annular groove 140. In addition, the spring 128 urges the head portion 124 of the pin 122 into firm engagement with the sealing member 144 whereby to prevent flow through the bore 120.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that in normal operation of the valve, pressure is applied to the discharge nozzle portion 132 of the valve actuator member 130 to tilt the nozzle portion and valve actuator member to compress the spring 118 and to disengage a portion of the valve member 130 from the sealing member 108, whereby to place the assageway 136 in communication, by way of the aperture 142, with the chamber 110. The spring 128 still retains the pin 122 in position to prevent flow through the bore 120.

Referring to P16. 6, however, it will be seen that in the event of accumulation of excessive pressure in the chamber 110, the pressure in the bore 120 will cause the pin 122 to lift upwardly (as shown in FIG. 6) to disengage the head portion 124 of the pin from the sealing member 144, whereby to permit flow into the discharge passage 136, which is under atmospheric pressure only. The sealing member 144 is free and may be caused by pressure to ride upwardly with the head portion 124 of the pin 122, still permitting flow into the discharge passage 136. As long as the pressure in the container remains sufficiently high to compress the spring 128, flow through the bore 120 will continue. When the pressure decreases to the desired upper limit, the spring 128 once again moves the pin 122 into position to block flow through the bore 120, thereby to close the valve.

Thus, there is provided a valve suitable for use in an aerosol dispenser container, which valve may be operated in the usual manner but which also has facility for relieving excess pressure in the container without action on the part of an operator.

It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular construction herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the disclosure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Valve assembly for a pressurized container, said valve assembly comprising a valve housing having a recess axially thereof to provide a chamber having an open end and a substantially closed end, an inlet nozzle portion of said housing integral with said housing and extending therefrom, said nozzle portion having an inlet passage in communication with said chamber, sealing means disposed on said housing at said open end whereby to substantially cover said recess and thereby to substantially close said chamber, said sealing means having an opening therein, a first valve member having a tubular portion extending through and disposed in said opening, a base portion of said first valve member being integral with said tubular portion and being disposed in said chamber, a platform member slidably disposed in said chamber and engaging said base portion of said first valve member, a first coil spring disposed in said chamber and engaging at either end thereof said platform member and said closed end of said chamber whereby to urge said base portion of said first valve member into seating engagement with said sealing means, said platform member having an axial passage interconnecting the interior of said chamber and the interior of said tubular portion of said first valve member, a second valve member slidably disposed in said axial passage and having a valve head at one end thereof disposed proximate to said tubular portion and a second head member at the other end thereof disposed in said chamber and proximate to said inlet passage, and a second coil spring disposed about said second valve member and engaging at either end thereof said platform member and said second valve second head member, whereby to urge the valve head of said second valve member into seating engagement with said platform member, whereby upon accumulation of excessive pressure in said chamber said second valve member is moved against the pressure of said second coil spring to exhaust said chamber.

2. Valve assembly for a pressurized container, said valve assembly comprising a valve housing having a chamber therein, an inlet nozzle at a first end of said housing having an inlet passageway for placing said chamber in communication with the interior of said container, a first valve member having a tubular portion slidably disposed in an opening in a second end of said housing and having a base portion disposed in said chamber, first spring means disposed in said chamber between the first valve member and the first end of said housing for urging the first valve member base portion into engagement with the second end of said housing, a second valve member disposed in said chamber for placing said chamber in communication with the interior of said tubular portion, a platform slidably disposed in said chamber and engaging the base portion of said first valve member, said platform having said second valve member slidably disposed in an opening therein, and second spring means disposed in said chamber and about said second valve member to urge said second valve member to a closed position, said second spring means being compressible upon accumulation of excessive pressure in said chamber to permit movement of said second valve member to an open position to exhaust material from said chamber.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said first spring means comprises a coil spring extending from said platform to the first end of said valve housing and said second spring means extends from said platform to a head member disposed upon one end of said second valve member.

4. The invention according to claim 2 in which said first spring means comprises a coil spring extending from said platform to said first end of said valve housing and said second spring means comprises a coil spring extending from said platform to a head member disposed upon one end of said second valve member. 

1. Valve assembly for a pressurized container, said valve assembly comprising a valve housing having a recess axially thereof to provide a chamber having an open end and a substantially closed end, an inlet nozzle portion of said housing integral with said housing and extending therefrom, said nozzle portion having an inlet passage in communication with said chamber, sealing means disposed on said housing at said open end whereby to substantially cover said recess and thereby to substantially close said chamber, said sealing means having an opening therein, a first valve member having a tubular portion extending through and disposed in said opening, a base portion of said first valve member being integral with said tubular portion and being disposed in said chamber, a platform member slidably disposed in said chamber and engaging said base portion of said first valve member, a first coil spring disposed in said chamber and engaging at either end thereof said platform member and said closed end of said chamber whereby to urge said base portion of said first valve member into seating engagement with said sealing means, said platform member having an axial passage interconnecting the interior of said chamber and the interior of said tubular portion of said first valve member, a second valve member slidably disposed in said axial passage and having a valve head at one end thereof disposed proximate to said tubular portion and a second head member at the other end thereof disposed in said chamber and proximate to said inlet passage, and a second coil spring disposed about said second valve member and engaging at either end thereof said platform member and said second valve second head member, whereby to urge the valve head of said second valve member into seating engagement with said platform member, whereby upon accumulation of excessive pressure in said chamber said second valve member is moved against the pressure of said second coil spring to exhaust said chamber.
 2. Valve assembly for a pressurized container, said valve assembly comprising a valve housing having a chamber therein, an inlet nozzle at a first end of said housing having an inlet passageway for placing said chamber in communication with the interior of said container, a first valve member having a tubular portion slidably disposed in an opening in a second end of said housing and having a base portion disposed in said chamber, first spring means disposed in said chamber between the first valve member and the first end of said housing for urging the first valve member base portion into engagement with the second end of said housing, a second valve member disposed in said chamber for placing said chamber in communication with the interior of said tubular portion, a platform slidably disposed in said chamber and engaging the base portion of said first valve member, said platform having said second valve member slidably disposed in an opening therein, and second spring means disposed in said chamber and about said second valve member to urge said second valve member to a closed position, said second spring means being compressible upon accumulation of excessive pressure in said chamber to permit movement of said second valve member to an open position to exhaust material from said chamber.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 in which said first spring means comprises a coil spring extending from said platform to the first end of said valve housing and said second spring means extends from said platform to a head member disposed upon one end of said second valve member.
 4. The invention according to claim 2 in which said first spring means comprises a coil spring extending from said platform to said first end of said valve housing and said second spring means comprises a coil spring extending from said platform to a head member disposed upon one end of said second valve member. 